Troy City Council Picks Star EMS to Speed Up Emergency Response Times

Troy officials approved Star EMS as their next medical response provider on August 25. The switch aims to slash wait times from eight to six minutes when service starts in 2026.

The contract spans two years at $771,100 for year one, rising to $794,200 in year two. Officials built in a chance to stretch the deal three more years if needed.

Fire Chief Peter Hullinger stood behind the pick. "After these discussions and meetings, the EMS committee agreed that Star EMS would be able to meet the requirements and provide the services being requested by the city of Troy," Hullinger said, according to C&G Newspapers.

A study in late 2024 pushed for faster medical response in the Michigan city. This sparked a search for new providers starting in May 2025.

While AmeriPro Health, LifeLine, Medstar, Star EMS, and Universal Macomb showed initial interest, Star stood alone in submitting a full proposal.

Mayor Ethan Baker stressed the input from city workers. "Members of our public safety team — first responders from our police, fire, and dispatch — were an important part of this decision-making process," Baker said.

The city will watch Star's work closely. Council member Hirak Chanda hinted at bringing services in-house if needed. "We'll give it a try to see if it can be achieved with outsourced vendors. Otherwise, we'll move forward in the long run for an in-house EMS," Chanda said.